RE: 225/50/16 tires on A4?

[Tom Haapanen <tomh@metrics.com>]

Lance,

If you want more grip, buy a grippier *summer* tire with a Z rating,
rather than a compromise all-season (like the P7000 Supersport) with a W
rating.  For the same price as the Supersport, you can get the highly
acclaimed (at least on the 'net) Dunlop SP8000 in 205/50R 15 Z ...

And a 10% wider tire will *not* give you significantly more grip, let
alone 10%.  The contact patch remains essentially the same size, just a
different shape, and the sidewalls (whose flex is a major factor in
handling) are still the same height.

Not to mention that if you are planning to drive these in the not-so-dry
conditions, the wider tire will give you more aquaplaning potential in
the wet, and worse traction in the snow.

-----
Tom Haapanen -- Software Metrics Inc. -- Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
A Microsoft Solution Provider Partner -- http://www.metrics.com/


>-----Original Message-----
>From: "R. Lance Dillon" <rldillon@mem.po.com>
>Date: Mon, 03 Mar 1997 19:00:13 -0500
>Subject: 225/50/16 tires on A4?
>
>I have yet to get a definitive answer on this question.
>The people at NTW say they won't fit. Discount Tire
>Direct says some fender rolling might be needed at the
>rear. Tire Rack says they should fit no problem. If
>you look at the actual tire dimensions, the diameter
>is the same as the original tires. The tread width is
>wider but still less than the Plus 1 245/40/17
>configuration which seems to fit fine even on cars
>with lowered suspensions like the abt and MTM cars.
>What's the story??? The 225/50/16 Pirelli P7000
>Supersport is only $1 more per tire than the 205/55/16
>but offers alot more grip so it would be great if it fit.
>
>